housinghttp://kvpr.org
enLuxury Townhome Development Breaks Ground In Downtown Bakersfieldhttp://kvpr.org/post/luxury-townhome-development-breaks-ground-downtown-bakersfield
<p class="p1">Downtown Bakersfield is about to get another new housing development. Officials including Mayor Harvey Hall are celebrating the groundbreaking of the 17th Place Townhomes.&nbsp;</p><p class="p1">Project manager Austin Smith says the 3 story,&nbsp; 44-unit complex is the first market rate luxury housing development in downtown Bakersfield in years.&nbsp;</p>Thu, 18 Jun 2015 23:37:36 +0000Joe Moore50003 at http://kvpr.orgLuxury Townhome Development Breaks Ground In Downtown BakersfieldFits and Starts: Bay Area Housing Boom Prices Out Some Peoplehttp://kvpr.org/post/fits-and-starts-bay-area-housing-boom-prices-out-some-people
<p class="p1">Editor's Note: Five years after the Great Recession officially ended, the California economy looks like a patchwork quilt. All this week, we feature a series from our partners at Capital Public Radio and KPCC&nbsp;on how the strength of California’s economic recovery varies depending on where you live. Capital Public Radio’s Ben Adler kicks the series “Fits and Starts” with a look at the Bay Area, where the tech boom has driven the unemployment rate down – and housing prices up.<br /><span style="font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 1.5;">----</span></p>Tue, 14 Oct 2014 03:45:35 +0000Ben Adler - Capital Public Radio39491 at http://kvpr.orgFits and Starts: Bay Area Housing Boom Prices Out Some PeopleFresno Group Wants To Solve Blight Of Boarded Up Homeshttp://kvpr.org/post/fresno-group-wants-solve-blight-boarded-homes
<p>If you drive through many older parts of Fresno or other cities throughout the valley, chances are you'll see a number of boarded up homes. In many cases, they're not just an unsightly issue but one tied to everything from public safety to property values. Now a faith-based group Faith in Community has launched a new effort to find a solution to this problem, with an event called Blight to Light. We recently spoke about the project with Janine Nkosi, a Fresno State professor whose students are working to document the city's many blighted properties.</p>Tue, 30 Sep 2014 22:08:05 +0000Joe Moore40660 at http://kvpr.orgFresno Group Wants To Solve Blight Of Boarded Up HomesProp 41 Would Create 'Supportive' Housing for Homeless Veteranshttp://kvpr.org/post/prop-41-would-create-supportive-housing-homeless-veterans
<p class="p1">A California ballot measure before voters next month would redirect $600 million of pre-approved funds to build housing for low income and homeless veterans. Pauline Bartolone has more from Sacramento.&nbsp;</p><p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Forty-eight year-old Matthew </span>Meissner<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> says when one thing goes downhill, everything else follows. He became disabled in 2009, stopped working, moved in with family, then last year, found himself sleeping wherever he could in Sacramento. &nbsp;</span></p>Fri, 16 May 2014 22:13:06 +0000Pauline Bartolone32805 at http://kvpr.orgProp 41 Would Create 'Supportive' Housing for Homeless VeteransHomeowner Bill of Rights Gets Mixed Reviews Nearly One Year Onhttp://kvpr.org/post/homeowner-bill-rights-gets-mixed-reviews-nearly-one-year
<p class="p1">California’s Homeowners Bill of Rights is nearly a year old and both banks and groups representing distressed homeowners say the legislation intended to help distressed mortgage holders is a bit of a mixed bag.</p><p class="p1">Maurice Weeks is with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. He says provisions in the law have helped slow the state’s foreclosure rate.</p>Wed, 23 Oct 2013 14:49:00 +0000Max Pringle - Capital Public Radio23412 at http://kvpr.orgHomeowner Bill of Rights Gets Mixed Reviews Nearly One Year OnCalifornia Legislators Push For Short Sale Tax Reliefhttp://kvpr.org/post/california-legislators-push-short-sale-tax-relief
<p></p><p>There’s a push in the California legislature to provide tax relief for struggling homeowners who are forced into short sales.&nbsp; As Marianne Russ reports from Sacramento, the new legislation has bipartisan support.</p><p>A Democratic state Senator introduced the bill, and Republican Senator Joel Anderson has signed on as a co-author.&nbsp; He says homeowners going through a short sale need help.</p><p>"Let’s not kick them when they’re down," says Anderson.</p>Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:22:39 +0000Marianne Russ10082 at http://kvpr.orgCalifornia Legislators Push For Short Sale Tax ReliefOn Valley Edition: Armen Bacon "Griefland"; Homeless No More; Fresno Public Markethttp://kvpr.org/post/valley-edition-armen-bacon-griefland-homeless-no-more-fresno-public-market
<p>Today on Valley Edition, we talk with local author Armen Bacon about her new book <a href="http://www.griefland.com/">"Griefland"</a> and learn how a friendship grew out of the tragic loss of her son. We'll also talk about how tragic circumstances can change lives.&nbsp;Peter Nazaretian, a licensed marriage and family therapist, also joins our discussion.</p>Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:47:22 +0000Juanita Stevenson9128 at http://kvpr.orgOn Valley Edition: Armen Bacon "Griefland"; Homeless No More; Fresno Public MarketForeclosure Process Speeds Up in Californiahttp://kvpr.org/post/foreclosure-process-speeds-california
<p>Banks are speeding up the home foreclosure process in California, according to data out today. But one analyst says the process may start to slow down again.</p><p>It took lenders an average of 335 days, or about 11 months to complete the foreclosure process on California properties in the third quarter.</p><p>Daren Blomquist with foreclosure listing service RealtyTrac says that was down three percent from the previous quarter and an eight percent drop from a year ago.</p><p>"These foreclosures, if they’re going to happen, it’s better that it’s more like a band-aid that you rip off."</p>Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:29:18 +0000Steve Milne5294 at http://kvpr.orgForeclosure Process Speeds Up in CaliforniaRealtyTrac: California Leads Nation In Flipped Homeshttp://kvpr.org/post/realtytrac-california-leads-nation-flipped-homes
<p>Data out today show a big spike in the rate of California homes purchased and resold within six-months.</p><p>People in the real estate business call it “flipping.”</p><p>“Flipping is the process of buying a home or other property, usually at a discounted price, improving that property through rehab and repairs and then reselling that.”</p><p>Daren Blomquist is with RealtyTrac. The research firm has released new nationwide figures on flipped properties.</p><p>“Not surprisingly the state with the most flips in the first-half of 2012 was California with nearly 26,000.”</p>Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:58:03 +0000Steve Milne4246 at http://kvpr.orgRealtyTrac: California Leads Nation In Flipped HomesForeclosures Drop, But Still Remain Highhttp://kvpr.org/post/foreclosures-drop-still-remain-high
<p>Foreclosure-related home sales fell 10 percent in California during the second-quarter compared to last year. But repossessions still accounted for a big percentage of homes sold. Listing service RealtyTrac says four out of every 10 California homes sold between April and June were foreclosures.</p><p>Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac’s Vice-President said that number, "is extremely high. We’d expect to see less than 5 percent of all sales be foreclosure-related in a normal, healthy market."</p>Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:58:16 +0000Steve Milne3183 at http://kvpr.orgForeclosures Drop, But Still Remain HighHUD Secretary Donovan Visits Fresno, Touts Refinancing Progresshttp://kvpr.org/post/hud-secretary-donovan-visits-fresno-touts-refinancing-progress
<p></p><p> The nation's top housing official visited Fresno today to generate support for the Obama administration's efforts to stem the foreclosure crisis.&nbsp;</p><p>Shaun Donovan, Secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development met with homeowners and members of the media today, saying that preventing foreclosures is key to stabilizing property values and boosting the economy.</p>Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:33:33 +0000Joe Moore2668 at http://kvpr.orgHUD Secretary Donovan Visits Fresno, Touts Refinancing ProgressOn Valley Edition: HUD Secretary Donovan & Jim Costa; Sikh Community; New Horizonshttp://kvpr.org/post/valley-edition-hud-secretary-donovan-jim-costa-sikh-community-new-horizons
<p> On this week's Valley Edition, we talk with U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan and Congressman Jim Costa about the nation's on-going housing crisis, and possible solutions. Donovan is visiting Fresno to talk about the Obama administration's Home Affordable Refinancing Program (HARP) and another set of proposals from the President involving housing issues.Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:21:45 +0000Juanita Stevenson2604 at http://kvpr.orgOn Valley Edition: HUD Secretary Donovan & Jim Costa; Sikh Community; New HorizonsOn Valley Edition: Air Pollution and Dementia Linked; Mortgage Counseling; Highway 152http://kvpr.org/post/valley-edition-air-pollution-and-dementia-linked-mortgage-counseling-highway-152
<p>On this week&#39;s Valley Edition we talk about a new study that links dementia and air pollution, a new program that aims to help people stay in their homes, and a plan to make Highway 152 a toll road.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Valley Edition for February 21, 2012:</strong></p>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:45:23 +0000Juanita Stevenson1160 at http://kvpr.orgOn Valley Edition: Air Pollution and Dementia Linked; Mortgage Counseling; Highway 152